Pianissimo device.



No. 846,071. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. W. U. VOGEL & H. K. SNELL.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6, 1906.

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No. 846,071. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907'. W. 0. VOGEL & H. K. SNELL.

PIANIS$IMO DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1906.

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INVENTORS W G, 759% No. 846,071. PATENT-ED MAR. 5, 1907.

' W. 0. VOGEL & H. K. SNELL.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE. APPLIGATION FILED JAN.6, 1906.

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No 846,071. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. W. 0. VOGEL & H. K. SNELL.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTORS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM O. VOGEL AND HARRY K. SNELL, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

PIANISSHVIO DEVlCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed January 6, 1906. Serial No- 294.897.

and HARRY K. SNELL, citizens oi the United States, residing'at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State or Illinois, have in,-

vented a new and useful Improvement in Pianissimo Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement up on an upright-piano action for which we were granted Letters Patent February 13, 1906, N 0. 812,705.

The object of this invention is to permit a closer adjustment by employing two capstanscrews and by permitting an upward and forward movement of the lever-rail, thus reducing friction.

With this object in view our invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the piano, showing the parts in their normal positions with certain parts omitted. Fig. 2 is a similar vertical section with a lditional parts, showing the position of the movable parts while the key is at rest and the soft pedal is depressed. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing portions of the lower part of the action and illustniting the connection between the key and the movable parts of the action. Fig. 4 is a detail front perspective view of a portion of the action shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of an action-bracket, showing the rear side of the said bracket. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a leverrail, showing a double hinged bracket secured. thereto and connecting-arms adapted to connect the said bracket to the action-bracket shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is transverse sectional view through the action-bracket and showing a portion of the lever-rail in plan. and illustrating the manner of hinging sit-id lever-rail to the action-bracket. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a hinge and a bent bar, the two being detached. Fig. 9 is detailed perspective view of an adjustable bracket, of a covering for same, and a thumb-screw, the parts being dc 'ached. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view a leverrail hanger. Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the hanger shown in Fig. 10 and showing the bracket of Fig. 9 in position in the hanger, the bracket-covering being in place and shown in section. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a pilot-bar. Fig. 13 is a de tail perspective view of a lever and capstanscrew detached. Fig. 1.4.- is a detail perspective view of a flange. Fig. 15 is a side elevation, partly in section and enlarged, showing lever key, and capstan-screw. Fig. 16 is a detail side elevation showing a portion of the lever and the lower end portion of a pilotbar and showing the capstan-screw inverted. Figs. 17, 1S, and 19 are side elevations, partly in section and showing modifications of the cipstiin-screws and their relative positions. Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing a moditication.

In the drawings, A represents the main ac- (ion-rail, provided with an upwardly-extending flange A and a depending flange A. The action comprises a number of parts common to all piano-actions and which are shown and described in applicants Patent No. 812,705, dated February 13, 1906. The very brief references to these portions will therefore be suflicient, and it will therei ore be understood that the flange A carries a hammer-butt B, to which is connected a hammer O, having a hammer-head O. The main action-rail A is also provided with a rearwardly-extending flange A to which is pivoted a d amper-lever B carrying a damper B and provided with a restoring-spring B. To the flange A is pivoted a whip B, which carries a spoon B in engagement with the lower end of the damper-lever B The upper end of a pilot D is pivoted to the whip B, and the whip B is connected to the hammer-butt B by a bridle B and bridle wire B. A cushioned hammer-check B is supported from the whip B, the said hammer-check operating with a butler B supported from the hammer-butt B. A movable hammer-rest C is connected by hammer-rail hooks C to a vertical actionbracket C, so that the hammer-rest rail can i be moved toward and away from the strings Q, the movement of the hammer-rest rail being efl'ected by means of a soft-pedal rod C the upper end of which is secured in the usual manner to the hammer-rest rail. The lower end of the vertical action-bracket O is provided with the usual foot portion, and this portion has its upper horizontal face cut away, as shown at C, for a purpose to be hereafter explained. Adjacent its lower end the perforations O are formed in the vertical action-bracket in vertical alinement with each other, and these perforations are bushed with cloth.

Upon the rear edge of the vertical action bracket are formed two oppositely-eXt-ending lugs L, and immediately below these lugs is formed a shoulder L, the upper face of which is recessed or cut out, and extending from. this shoulder L downwardly to the foot of the action-bracket is a vertical strengtheningrib C The lower end. of the pilot D is bifurcated and fits over and is pivoted to a lever E, and a capstan-screw E, provided at one end with a removable round head E passes outw rdly and in a rearwardly-inclined direction through a perforation E formed diagonally through the lever E. A key Fr is provided adjacent its rear end with a felt portion upon which. the head of a capstan-screw E bears. The key also rests upon a suitable cushion E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Upon the key E and in advance of the felt portion. E is placed vertically a capstan-screw HE, and upon the forward under face of the lever E is placed a cushion of felt or other suitable material E which rests upon the heady of the capstan-screw Ff.

The piano-action also comprises a regulating-rail F, which is arranged in advance of the main action-rail A and which carries an adjustable regulating-button F. A iack G is pivotally supported from the whip B and a coil-spring G bears at its upper end upon the toe of the jack G and at its lower end upon the face of the whip B. The button F can be adj usted. so that when the ack G is actuated by movement of the whip B the toe of the jack will press upon the button F, thus relieving the hammer-butt of the pressure, but at the same time permitting the jack G and the hammer-butt B to remain in such relative positions to each other that the hammer C will quickly respond to any movement of the jack.

A vertically1novable lever-rail H carries a depending flange H, which is slightly longer than the usual flanges carried by lever-rails, and it is of course understood that the flange H is bifurcated at its lower end, and in this bifurcation is pivotally held the rear end. portion of the lever E, so that any upward movement of the lever-rail. l'l will also elevate the rear end. of the lever E, and thereby change the relative position of the capstan-screw E to the key E". The lever-rail H is secured to the vertical action-bracket C by means of the following-described mechanism: A plate H is secured to the front face of the lever-rail if, and this plate carries projectingshoulders or lugs at its upper and lower ends, and said.

shoulders are provided. with perforations suitably bushed with cloth. Links H have their end portions bent in opposite directions, and the bent end portionsof the rear ends of l the hooks are inserted into the perforations of l the shoulders of the plate 11?, and the bent portions at the forward ends of the hooks engage the bushed perforations (l of the vertical action-bracket C". By means of this construction. the lever-rail H. is given a compound movement, rising and falling vertically, and also moving as it rises toward. the vertical action-bracket C and as it falls moving away fromv the said bracket. The front lower edge of the lever-rail ll is beveled, and where the said rail rests when in its normal position upon the foot or shoe of the vertical action-ln'acket C it is cut, out and. a block ll" is inserted inv the cut-out portion, and a suitable cushion it is secured to the under face of the said block and also extends transverscly across the beveled portion. of the lever-rail, and this cushion it bears upon the cut-out portion C of the foot of the ver tical action-bracket.

A bracke J is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots J and. also at its rear end with parallel perforated. lugs, and this bracket is secured to the under face of the hammer-rest rail C by means of screws passing through the slots J. 3y loosening the screws the plate J can be moved upon the under face of the hammer-rest rail adistance substantially equal to the length of the slots, and the bracket is therefore adjustable with respect to the hammer-rest rail. A bar K has its central portion K offset with respect to its upper and ]owe' ends, and the upper end of the said bar is pivoted between the lugs of the bracket J. The lower end of the bar K is adjustably and loosely connected to the hammer-rest rail in the following manner: A lever-rail hanger K is secured to the leverrail, and this hanger comprises an. angleplate having parallel upwarilly-extemling lugs K, connected by a cross-piece K", the under side of which is rounded. A block K is vertically slotted, as shown at K, and is also provided with a perforation leading into said slot and through which works a setscrow K". The block carries a rearwardlyextending arm K, having a curved. portion K, which rests between the lugs K" of the hanger K and which engages the round. face of the cross-piece K". To make the operation of the arm noiseless, it is covered. with a flexible shield K of any suitable cushioning material. The lowt r end of the bar K passes through the slot K and. is locked. inv the same in. its adjusted position by in cans of set-screws K".

The lifting of the hannncr-rest rail C" from its normal position to that shown in Fig. 2 and consequent vertical movement of the bar K will impart an upward movement to the lever-rail ll. The offset in the bar K (shown at K) enables the said bar to clear the regulating-rail F.

In Figs. 17, 1S, and 19 we have shown a modification in the construction and arrange ment of the capstan-screws, it being understood that other parts are substantially the same. In Fig. 17 a lever M is provided upon its under face with two capstan-screws M, which are adapted to be acted upon by a cushion M carried by a key M Fig. 18 shows the same parts, the changes lying in the fact that a lever O carries a cushion O, which is engaged by capstan-screws 0 carried by a key The same parts are again shown in Fig. 19, and in this last modification the le ver 1 carries a cushion P and a capstanscrew P and the key P carries a capstanscrew P which cooperates with the cushion P and also carries a cushion P cooperating with the capstan-screw P In all of these arrangements the same result is aimed at that is, the maintaining of the keys in their normal position when the soft pedal is depressedwhereby the key has the same sweep or limit of travel in rising and falling when the soft pedal is depressed as it has when saidpedal is not in use, and this uniformity and certainty in the movement of the key adds to the certainty of the touch on the part of the performer and there is the same amount of fall in the finger movement when the soft pedal is depressed as when it is not in use. By means of the adjustability of the plate J any lost motion in the mechanism can be readily taken up.

The operation of the parts in common use in piano-actions will be fully understood, and the operation of the novel portions of the mechanism is as follows: When the soft pedal is depressed, the soft-pedal rod C rises and the hammer-rest rail C is moved upwardly and toward the strings Q into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby limiting the movement of the hammer C. This movement of the hammer-rail O upwardly and also rearwardly toward the strings Q carries the bar K with it, and as this bar is connected in the manner described to the lever-rail H the said rail is also lifted vertically, and by means of the links H, which pivotally connect the lever-rail H to the vertical action-bracket C the lever-rail I-I moves forwardly as well as vertically. This upward and forward movement of the lever-rail H lifts the rear end portion of the lever E and lifts the capstanscrew E out of contact with its cushion E, and the lever E at its forward end rocks upon the slightly-rounded head of the capstansorew E The key E in the meantime remains in its normal position, and when the key is depressed by the finger its rear end is lifted, and by reason of the engagement of the capstan-screws E with the cushion E the lever E is lifted at its forward end, thereby lifting the pilot Dand actuating the whip B and connected parts.

It will be understood, of course, that immaterial changes in the relative arrangement and sizes of the various parts canbe made in order to accommodate the action to pianos of various sizes and case designs without changing the manner of operation or the re sults gained.

In Fig. 20 we have shown the lever E pivotally hung in the slot D of the pilot-rod D and the cushion D is carried by the lower end of the pilot-rod. A key Q carries a cushion Q, which is engaged by the head of the capstan-screw R. A capstan-screw S is also carried by the key Q in position to engage the cushion D carried by the pilot-rod.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a piano-action the combination with a vertical action-bracket, of a lever-rail, links pivotally connecting the said lever-rail to the said. vertical action-bracket, a hammer-rest rail, adapted to be moved upwardly and rearwardly and connecting means between the hammer-rest rail and the lever-rail adapted to lift the lever-rail upwardly and forwardly during upward and rearward movement of the hammer-rest rail.

2. In a piano-action a Vertically-movable lever-rail, a lever pivotally suspended at its rear end from said rail, a pilot pivoted at its lower end to an intermediate portion of the said lever, a capstan-screw carried by the lever in advance of the pilot, a key, and a capstan-screw carried by the key in advance of the screw carried by the lever the screw on the lever engaging the key and the screw on the key engaging the lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a piano-action an upwardly and forwardly movable lever-rail, a movable hammer-rest rail, an adjustable plate carried by said last-mentioned rail, a bar pivotally con.- nected to said plate, means for loosely connecting the lower end portion of said bar to the lever-rail, a key, a pilot, a lever pivotally connected to the pilot intermediate its ends, and pivotally suspended from the lever-rail adjacent its rear end, and a plurality of capstan-screws adapted to cooperate with the said key and lever.

4. In a piano-action a vertical main actionbracket having a foot portion at its lower end, said foot portion being cut away on its upper face, a rib on the rear face of the vertical action-bracket, the said bracket being perforated adjacent the foot, the lever-rail, a plate carried by said lever-rail and having perforated shoulders at its ends, links having hooked members engaging respectively perforations in the shoulders of the plate and perforations in the action-bracket, said links being arranged in pairs and upon opposite sides of the rib, a block inserted in the rear face of the lever-rail, the said lever-rail being beveled along its lower front edge, and a cushion carried by said block and a portion of the beveled edge and adapted to rest in the cut-out portion of the foot.

5. A device of the kind described. comprising a movable hammer-rest rail, a leverrail, a lever-rail hanger, a vertically-s10tted block, an arm carried by the block and having a curved portion loosely engaging the leverrail hanger, and a bar adjustably held in the slot of the block and pivotally supported. from the hammer-rest rail.

6. In a piano-action a movable hammerrest rail, :1 plate adjustably carried by said rail, a bar having its central portion ol'lset With respect to its end portions and having 'its upper end pivotally connected to said plate, a lever-rail, a lever-rail hanger, a slotted block, an arm carried by the block and loosely in engagement With the lever-rail hanger, the lower end portion of the bar passing through the slot of the block, means for locking the said bar to the block, and means for pivotally connecting the lever-rail to the vertical-action rail of a piano.

7. The combination with a vertically-movable lever-i'ail, an angleplate secured thereto, parallel lugs carried by said plate, a crosspiece connecting said lugs and having a round under face, a block, an arm carried by the block and having a curved end portion adapted to rest between the lugs of the plate and beneath the cross-piece, a flexible sleeve carried by the curved portion of said arm and adapted to engage the cross-piece, a movable hammer-rest rail, a bar pivotally supported therefrom, and means for connecting said bar to the said block.

\VILLIAM (l. VOGEL. HARRY K. SNELL.

l/Vitnesses:

LEVI F. EDWARDS, E. A. FARLEY. 

